African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 621–628

DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/170551

Article Type: Full Length Research Paper

Title: Epidemiology and molecular tracking of Fasciola gigantica infections in pastoral cattle herds across the Lake Chad basin, northern Cameroon

Names of Authors: Bello M. Saibou¹, Hamidou D. Alhadji¹, Gaston P. Ngassam²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon. ²Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, Wildlife and Fisheries Division, Maroua, Cameroon.

Abstract: Fascioliasis causes extensive liver damage, production loss, and financial setbacks in pastoral livestock operations across sub-Saharan wetlands. This epidemiological investigation examined the prevalence, risk dynamics, and genetic lineages of Fasciola gigantica infesting cattle within seasonal pastoral grazing networks along the Lake Chad basin in northern Cameroon. A cohort of 840 cattle from nomadic herds was examined using sedimentational coprological profiling and confirmatory enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays targeting circulating fluke antigens. The overall infection prevalence was determined at 34.6 percent (n = 291). Quantitative fecal egg counts demonstrated a mean burden of 245 eggs per gram (range 50 to 1150 eggs per gram). Genetic characterization of recovered adult flukes based on sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene confirmed Fasciola gigantica as the sole species, showing a 99.4 percent sequence homology with reference strains from West and Central Africa. Multivariate logistic regression linked high infection risk with communal grazing inside seasonal floodplains during the dry-season retreat (odds ratio = 4.88, 95 percent confidence interval [2.95 to 8.04]). Haematological profiling of infected cattle revealed a significant reduction in mean packed cell volume (21.4 percent ± 2.6 percent versus 31.2 percent ± 3.1 percent in uninfected controls, P < 0.001) alongside marked eosinophilia. These findings show intense transmission risks driven by seasonal reliance on wetland pastures, highlighting the need for strategic anthelmintic treatments prior to herd migration.

Keywords: Fasciola gigantica, Pastoral cattle, Coprology, Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, Lake Chad basin, Cameroon

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 25 June 2026; Revised: 22 July 2026; Accepted: 05 August 2026; Published: 29 August 2026

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